Cowl and supporting means therefor



Dec. 2, 1941. R. 1. MARKEY COWL AND SUPPORTING MEANS THEREFOR MW M &.. (2/4;

A TTORN E Y.

Dec. 2, 1941. MARKEY 2,264,706

COWL AND SUPPORTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed March 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Roscge I. Maf/rey ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 2, 1941 COWL AND SUPPORTING MEANS THEREFOR Roscoe LMarkey, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Pollak Manufacturing Company,

Arlington,

N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application March 6, 1941, Serial No. 381,990

8 Claims.

The invention relates to cowls and mounting means therefor and particularly to that type of cowl used in connection with exhaust collectors of radial-type aircraft engines.

It is well known intense heat is set up in exhaust collectors or manifolds of aircraft engines and this heat is naturally transferred to the cowling which is in close proximity to the collector ring. Thus high stresses and strains are set up in the cowling due to expansion and contraction and the principal object of the present invention is to provide a cowl of extremely simple construction that will efliciently withstand these stresses and strains.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a mounting means for securing the cowl to the engine in a simple and secure manner, the mounting means also serving as an emcient support for the exhaust manifold collector ring which co-operates with the cowl to form the I carburetor air heater.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this specification proceeds. Referring to the drawings forming a part thereof and in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated Fig. .1 is a front elevation of the cowl, the exhaust manifold being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the cowl and the exhaust manifold;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the exhaust manifold also being in section;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 1, with the exhaust manifold being in position;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the supporting member; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view illustrating a difierent shaped manifold.

Referring again to said drawings the cowl is designated by the reference numeral Iii and comprises a spun ring of light metal and of uniform radial cross-section at all points. Due to its regular contour the spinning operation of the ring is facilitated and economies of manufacture obtained.

As illustrated the cowl is so shaped in crosssection as to somewhat conform with one-half of the exhaust manifold II and provide an annular air space l2 for heating air for the carburetor. However various sections of exhaust manifold might be utilized without in anyway departing from the spirit of the invention. The heated air admitted into the annular air space I2. flexibility of the strip 20 readily permits of it haust manifold rings H. ferent shape of manifold ll an'dshows how the strip 2llmay be somewhat distorted so as to form is led "to the carburetor through an off-take pipe l3 weldedor otherwise secured to the cowl.

Formed on the outer circumferential edge of the cowl I is a forwardly extending flange l5. At what might be termed the inner edge of the cowl there is formed a short forwardly extending 'fiange l6 which merges into an inwardly extending flange I! which in turn merges into a rounded portion l8 and thence into the body portion of the cowl. The cowl having the continuous completeflanges at b'othits outer and inner edges makes for an exceedingly strong and rigid construction and one in which local stresses are efficiently taken care of.

Riveted -'or otherwise secured to the flange I is a strip of asbestos 2% or other strong and durablematerial having a certain degree of flexibility. This strip of asbestos functions to complete the closure for'the annular hot air space 12. It will be noted the strip is not continuous for the complete circumference of the flange i5, thus leaving an opening through which the air may be The accommodating itself to different shapes of ex- Fig. 6 illustrates a difan eifective'closure for the air space.

The front of the air space maybe sealed by a flange 2!, as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and shown in my copending application Serial No. 298,769, filed October 10, 1939, now Patent Number 2,247,393 issued July 1, 1941. However, in exhaust manifold collector rings which do not have a flange a suitable filler piece may be utilized to seal the air space.

The rounded portion I8 of the cowl forms a seat for the mounting means. As illustrated the mounting means comprises a rigid tubular ring which snugly engages the rounded portion I8 of the cowl. Welded or otherwise secured to the ring 25 are rearwardly extending feet 26, any suitable number of which may be employed. Welded or otherwise fastened to the inner ends of the feet 26 are plates 21 having apertures through which bolts 28 may pass to firmly secure the mounting means to the engine.

Projecting from the forward portion of the ring 25 are studs 30 which are welded or otherwise secured to the ring. These studs pass through suitable apertures in the cowl and in the flanges 2! of the exhaust manifold II. The outer ends of the studs 30 are threaded for the reception of grip nuts 3 I. To insure against the nuts becoming displaced springs 32 are interposed between the nuts and the flange 2 I.

It is thus thought to be apparent an exceedingly simple, rigid and durable means has been provided for securing and mounting the cowl and the exhaust manifold collector ring in proper relation to each other and to the engine.

Changes in arrangements of parts and in details of construction may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cowl for a radial-type aircraft engine, said cowl comprising a spun ring of light metal and of uniform radial cross section at all points, a continuous forwardly extending flange at its outer edge, a strip of flexible material extending beyond the flange in a forward direction and partway around said flange and secured to said flange, said strip of material acting as a closure between the cowl and the exhaust manifold.

2. A. cowl for a radial-type aircraft engine, said cowl comprising a spun ring of light metal and of uniform radial cross-section at all points, and means for supporting said cowl on said engine, said means comprising an annular ring cooperating with the inner edge of said cowl, and rearwardly extending legs, one end of each of said legs being secured to said ring and the other end to said engine.

3. A cowl for a radial-type aircraft engine, said cowl comprising a spun ring of light metal and of uniform radial cross-section at all points, a continuous forwardly extending flange at its outer edge, a strip of flexible material extending beyond the flange in a forward direction and partway around said flange and secured to said flange, said strip of material acting as a closure between the cowl and the exhaust manifold, and means for supporting said cowl on said engine, said means comprising an annular ring co-operating with the inner edge of said cowl, and rearwardly extending legs, one end of each of said legs being secured to said ring and the other end to said engine.

, 4. A device of the character described having in combination a cowl, an exhaust manifold collector ring so positioned in relation to said cowl as to form an air heating chamber between said cowl and said exhaust manifold collector ring, and an annular ring co-operating With the inner edge of said cowl, said annular ring having means on one side for securing it to the engine and means on the other side for securing the cowl and the exhaust manifold collector ring to it and in proper relation to each other.

5. A device of the character described having in combination a cowl, an exhaust manifold collector ring so positioned in relation to said cowl as to form an air heating chamber between said cowl and said exhaust manifold collector ring, and an annular ring co-operating with the inner edge of said cowl, said annular ring having rearwardly extending feet for mounting it on and securing it to the engine, and forwardly extending studs for securing the cowl and exhaust manifold collector ring to it and in proper relation to each other.

6. A device of the character described having in combination a cowl formed of a spun ring and having a forwardly extending flange at its outer edge, an exhaust manifold collector ring, a strip of flexible material extending beyond the flange in a forward direction and partway around said flange and secured to said flange, said strip of material acting as a closure between the cowl and the exhaust manifold, and an annular ring co-operating with the inner edge of said cowl said annular ring having means on one side for securing it to the engine and means on the other side for securing the cowl and the exhaust manifold collector ring to it and in proper relation to each other.

'7. A device of the character described having in combination a cowl formed of a spun ring and having a forwardly extending flange at its outer edge, an exhaust manifold collector ring, a strip of flexible material extending beyond the flange in a forward direction and partway around said flange and secured to said flange, said strip of material acting as a closure between the cowl and the exhaust manifold, and an annular ring cooperating with the inner edge of said cowl, said annular ring having rearwardly extending feet for mounting it on and securing it to the engine, and forwardly extending studs for securing the cow] and exhaust manifold collector ring to it and in proper relation to each other.

8. A mounting means for a cowl and an exhaust manifold collector ring for a radial-type aircraft engine, said means comprising an annular ring having rearwardly extending feet and forwardly extending studs.

ROSCOE I. MARKEY. 

